There is nothing like watching a well-choreographed, expertly shot martial arts scene in a movie. The closest thing might be a live performance of a ballet like Swan Lake, and even that’s a stretch. The coordination, endurance, and intense planning that goes into creating an engaging fight is mind-blowing! So being able to watch a full film with multiple scenes surrounded by an enthralling story is like witnessing real-life magic. Although most people associate martial arts films with Hong Kong action flicks, there is a whole world of underappreciated films out there to enjoy that are just a click away for anyone with a Netflix subscription. Here are the best martial arts movies on Netflix.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best action movies and shows on streaming.

Disclaimer: These titles are available in the US.

‘The Shadow Strays’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 6.5/10

The Shadow Strays

Release Date

October 17, 2024

Runtime

144 Minutes

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Writers

Timo Tjahjanto

Indonesia is an underrated powerhouse of the martial arts movie genre, so I would be remiss if I didn’t put you onto some of the good stuff that isn’t just The Raid: Redemption. First in my Indonesian action triple feature is The Shadow Strays, which feels like writer and director Timo Tjahjanto took the best parts of Kill Bill and John Wick to create a visually stunning crime thriller that’s not just heart-pounding but also filled with heart. The story follows Aurora Ribero as a teenage assassin who must kick, punch, and slash her way through a crime syndicate to rescue a young boy she befriends in her apartment building. The fights are brutal, the cinematography is top-tier, and the world-building is immersive. You can’t go wrong with this one.

Watch on Netflix

‘The Night Comes for Us’ (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 6.9/10

The Night Comes For Us

Release Date

October 5, 2018

Runtime

121 Minutes

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Writers

Timo Tjahjanto

The second of this Indonesian action triad is another hit written and directed by Timo Tjahjanto, The Night Comes for Us, which reunites The Raid stars Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais for a blood-soaked carnival of violence. It’s a Lone Wolf and Cub redemption tale that follows Taslim as a drug syndicate enforcer who has a change of heart during a massacre, forcing him to kill his team to save a young girl — a betrayal that pits him against his friends and former gang boss. As expected of a Tjahjanto production, the fights are visceral, and the hero shots are like a beautiful painting, but the extra frosting on this sweet layer cake of action and internal struggle is Taslim’s performance as the elite killer-turned-protector that finally lets him show the world that he was born to be a leading man.

Watch on Netflix

‘Headshot’ (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Headshot

Release Date

March 3, 2017

Runtime

118 Minutes

Director

Timo Tjahjanto, Kimo Stamboel

Producers

Mike Wiluan, Shinjiro Nishimura

The last in this triple threat of Indonesian martial arts extravaganzas is actually Timo Tjahjanto’s first action flick that he made with his long-time filmmaking partner Kimo Stamboel. Headshot is often compared to The Bourne Identity, but Matt Damon wishes he could dazzle audiences with the wide array of combat expertise displayed in this savage film. Plus, Iko Uwais, who also oversaw fight choreography, perfectly balances raw viciousness and a charming tenderness that the Bourne series could never. Sure, the comparison makes sense — both feature a protagonist with amnesia and a deadly set of skills fighting the organization they once worked for — but that is where the overlap ends. The world-building and character dynamics of this film are immersive, taking the audience into a criminal underworld of tragedy and death.

Watch on Netflix

‘Sixty Minutes’ (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 5.7/10

Sixty Minutes

Run Time

1 hr 28 min

Director

Oliver Kienle

Release Date

January 19, 2024

Actors

Emilio Sakraya, Dennis Mojen, Marie Mouroum, Paul Wollin, Florian Schmidtke

This German action thriller is a high-octane slugfest that moves at a breakneck pace across Berlin. Sixty Minutes follows an MMA fighter, played by Emilio Sakraya, who is forced to dash from one end of the city to the other on foot so he can keep his daughter in his life. Unfortunately, the mobsters who bet on the fight he fled chase after him to get their due. It’s a popcorn movie with clear, relatable stakes that maintains its momentum with great action choreography and awesome chemistry between Sakraya and his co-lead Marie Mouroum, who finally gets to show her face during these breathtaking fight sequences after years of being a stuntperson behind the scenes.

Watch on Netflix

‘Blood and Bone’ (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Blood and Bone

Release Date

February 7, 2009

Runtime

93 minutes

Director

Ben Ramsey

Writers

Michael Andrews

Producers

Michael Mailer

Cast

• 
• 

  Michael Jai White

  Isaiah Bone

• 
• 

Master martial artist Michael Jai White stars as an ex-con who joins an underground fighting ring so he can battle his way to the top and rid his neighborhood of a criminal threat plaguing the local community. Blood and Bone is camp in a nostalgic way that harkens back to Blacksploitation films like Black Belt Jones and Dolemite while elevating the action to new heights by using professionally trained fighters to execute impressive feats of martial prowess. White has a natural charisma that makes him endlessly watchable, but he’s not the only one kicking butt on-screen, as he’s surrounded by the amazing talents of Dante Basco, Nona Gaye, and Julian Sands.

Watch on Netflix

‘Maria’ (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 5.1/10

Maria

Run Time

1 hr 30 min

Director

Pedring A. Lopez

Release Date

March 27, 2019

Actors

Cristine Reyes, Germaine De Leon, KC Montero

It’s a well-known premise: a former assassin with a loving family and a new life has their old violent life come back to haunt them — you know, like John Wick or Who Is Erin Carter? However, Maria’s setting in the Philippines and the questions it poses to the audience give it a fresh feel. Co-written and directed by Pedring Lopez, this Filipino-language thriller kicks major tail but also lays an interesting query down at the feet of the viewers: is a killer allowed to live a happy life, or are they doomed to the same suffering they have caused others? It’s a wild roller coaster that keeps you enthralled throughout, mainly due to Cristine Reyes’ performance as the lead.

Watch on Netflix

‘A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box’ (1995)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.5/10

A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box

Run Time

1 hr 27 min

Director

Jeffrey Lau

Release Date

January 21, 1995

Actors

Stephen Chow, Athena Chu, Ng Man-tat, Yammie Lam, Karen Mok

Before he was known as one of Hong Kong’s best action comedy directors, Stephen Chow starred in this whimsical fantasy spectacular. A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora’s Box is based on the renowned Chinese novel Journey to the West but reincarnates the four main travelers into new characters who must fight battles related to the previous lives they know nothing about. Chow is sensational as both Sun Wukong and his reincarnation, Joker, managing to contrast them in subtle and interesting ways. In addition to Chow’s performance, the set design and costuming have a kitschy feel to them that is reminiscent of a stage production — something fans of Hong Kong fantasy are sure to appreciate. And just so you know, there are two parts to this epic, so make sure you catch the whole journey!

Watch on Netflix

‘The Karate Kid’ (1984)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 7.3/10

The Karate Kid

Release Date

June 22, 1984

Runtime

126 minutes

Director

John G. Avildsen

Writers

Robert Mark Kamen

Honestly, at this point, we don’t really need to sell you on this classic film that is the epitome of the hero’s journey that launched a franchise that continues to this day — heck, we’re getting the reboot sequel Karate Kid: Legends this year! But just in case you need the hard sell, The Karate Kid is a phenomenal story about a young boy (Ralph Macchio) who moves to a new town and overcomes bullying and his own limited perceptions of the world as he learns karate from the mysterious maintenance person in his building, played by the late, great Pat Morita. Though this is not a gritty beat-em-up like other films on this list, it is a touching story that uses martial arts to explore human connection and personal healing journeys.

Watch on Netflix